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Pride 2023, the annual springtime celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and queer joy, spans April and May this year and includes �����鶹’s first-ever Pride parade.

A committed group of student volunteers are working with the  to plan and execute this year’s Pride events, with support from the �����鶹 community and beyond, says , program coordinator at OPAL.

“Pride is a time to come together with others who may or may not share my experiences and to celebrate the progress we’ve made, while also acknowledging the work that still needs to be done,” says Vincent Sun ’26, co-chair of the Pride committee.

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A �����鶹 softball player wears a ribbon to celebrate Pride. (Photo courtesy of �����鶹 Athletics) 

Rosario Rosales ’25, co-chair of the Pride committee, says Pride is about “the celebration of identity, the awareness of the history that took us to get here, the reminder of the progress we have achieved, and the progress we have yet to achieve within our community, and the encouragement to simply embrace who you are.”

Pride events kicked off with a �����鶹 Athletics Pride weekend April 7-9, at all home games—women’s tennis on Friday, women’s lacrosse and softball on Saturday, baseball and men’s tennis on Sunday—with teams displaying the rainbow colors and inviting fans to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ student community.

Events continue on Saturday, April 22, with the �����鶹 Pride committee and OPAL sending a delegation of �����鶹 students and staff to the LGBTQIA+ Health Summit at Vermont Technical College in Randolph, Vt.

Co-sponsored by the Pride Center of Vermont, Out in the Open, and Outright Vermont, the summit aims to “increase health justice and ensure access to quality, culturally affirming medical and mental health care for traditionally underserved communities, including LGBTQIA+ people who hold intersecting identities.”

Other events include a relaunch ceremony on April 27 from 3 to 5 p.m. of the Rainbow Room in Robinson Hall room 105/107, a welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ students and friends.

The �����鶹 Library Book Arts Workshop will host a poster printing and zine making opportunity on May 3. The House of Lewan, �����鶹’s first recognized drag club, will host the annual Transform Drag Show on May 5.

And �����鶹’s first Pride parade is scheduled for May 7.

Lavender Graduation, the LGBTQIA+ community’s commencement event, will be on May 17.

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And as in past years, a large Pride flag will hang on the Collis Patio, reminding LGBTQIA+ community members that they belong here.

“As we see waves of anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country, limiting access to critical health care, health education, recreational activities like sports, and even bans on drag, it is increasingly critical that students are able to create the community that they want and need, here and now,” says Bouthot.